PLAN Conducted Major Naval Drills Involving close to 100 Vessels & Units in South China Sea

PLAN Conducted Major Naval Drills Involving close to 100 Vessels & Units in South China Sea

Posted On
Wednesday, 20 July 2016 17:05

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Naval Forces News - China

PLAN Conducted Major Naval Drills Involving close to 100 Vessels &
Units in South China Sea

Our colleagues from Eastpendulum
are reporting that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese
Navy) conducted large scale naval drills in the South China Sea. The
naval exercise involved close to 100 vessels, submarine, aircraft from
the PLAN air force and coastal defense (land based) units during 4 days
(between July 7 and 11, 2016).

These units represent part of the frontline forces
of the three major Chinese fleets. For the exercise, they were split
into two groups: one led by destroyer Hefei and and the other destroyer
Guanzhou. The exercise took place in an area of 106 000km² (57
235 nautical miles).

In the video above, the HQ-9 SAM launch takes place on Woody Island,
the largest of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea (this island
is also claimed by Taiwan and by Vietnam).

Revealed for the first time: The new YJ-12
supersonic anti-ship cruise missile launched from an H-6G

According to an official PLAN statement, the objective
of this large scale exercise was to evaluate the integrated capability
of the various units of the Chinese navy in case of a local conflict.
The presence of the Commander of the Chinese navy, Admiral Wu Shengli,
and officials of the General Staff throughout the maneuvers demonstrates
the importance of this naval exercice.